South Street of Pingyao

South Street of Pingyao

South Street of Pingyao was first established in the sixth year of the Xianfeng era (1856) and ceased operations in the second year of the Republic of China (1913), operating for a total of 58 years. Also known as Ming-Qing Street, it has been the most bustling commercial center of Pingyao County since ancient times, with shops on both sides featuring Ming and Qing architectural styles. In June 2009, South Street of the World Heritage-listed Ancient City of Pingyao was included in the first batch of “China’s Famous Historical and Cultural Streets.”

South Street of Pingyao is the central axis of the symmetrical layout of the Ancient City of Pingyao. It starts from the junction of East and West Streets in the north and extends to the East Gate in the south, with the Ancient Market Tower running through it from north to south. It served as the most prosperous commercial hub during the Ming and Qing dynasties and is one of the finest examples of the city’s historical and cultural heritage.

Today, the entire South Street retains its complete traditional layout and unique historical charm. The street is lined with numerous century-old traditional time-honored businesses and ancient residential buildings that feature distinctive Ming and Qing architectural styles. During the Qing Dynasty, South Street controlled over 50% of the country’s financial institutions and was hailed as China’s “Wall Street.”

South Street of Pingyao has had significant influence in politics, economy, culture, and other aspects throughout history. It has been the site of important historical events, home to representative traditional industries, and a concentrated reflection of local and ethnic characteristics. It boasts rich cultural elements and distinct historical and cultural features, along with abundant intangible cultural heritage. The area preserves a wealth of cultural relics, historic buildings, and maintains a relatively intact traditional layout and unique historical ambiance, all on a considerable scale.

South Street faces the southern gate (Yingxun Gate) and runs from north to south. It is not only parallel to the eastern city wall to the east and Shaxiang Street to the west but also equidistant from them. The ancient “Golden Outer” point in the practice of “geomantic prospecting” lies along this street, with the “Golden Slice Tower” spanning the street’s center. South Street is the backbone of the city, embodying the profound essence of the ancient town’s culture. It stretches 690 meters from the front of Xingguo Temple (commonly known as the Small Temple, located inside the southern gate barbican and no longer extant) in the south to the junction of East and West Streets in the north (measuring 738 meters from the southern city wall). Lined with closely spaced high-roofed buildings, the street hosts 78 ancient shops, bustling with merchants and fluttering with shop signs.

The traditional concept of South Street refers only to the section from Wushi Kou northward, totaling 422 meters. In the mid-Qing Dynasty, commerce flourished and draft banks rose to prominence. On this prime piece of land rich in resources and talent, renowned establishments such as Tongyiqing, Kuichengyu, Chongfenghou, Xieshunlong, Yonglonghao, Changtaiyong, Xinglongxin, and later Yijuheng and Ruifengxiang were all formidable players in business. Their extraordinary achievements brought them enduring fame, and the praises of Shanxi merchants have been passed down through generations.

Attraction Location

Pingyao County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province